[Rhodes22-list] Boom Room Update

[Bill Effros]

Dave,

How exciting!  Nice job.  Couldn't have hoped for better!

Slim,

The pictures posted were fine for us all to get a look at your rig.  It 
is very different from the boom room posted on the GB site, and I think 
most of us couldn't understand what was wrong with it as far as Stan was 
concerned.  It looked good to us, and several people took the time to 
say so.  Clearly you get a lot of use out of it, and you are in a 
position to give us lots of pointers.  Yours is the prototype, and we 
will listen more closely than usual to what you have to say on this matter.

As soon as I have time, I will post pictures I have gathered showing 
dodger/awning combinations developed by marine canvas fabricators.  This 
is the approach Stan seems to have rejected, and that's good enough for 
me.  These designs seem to run in the $5000+ range.  I am posting them 
only for reference.

As I understand Dave's report, Stan has developed a fairly simple set of 
interchangeable panels that will work on any R-22, and maybe many other 
boats as well.  He has advised us to stay away from the costly marine 
fabricators and develop local talent to produce a standard product.

Stan feels the load bearing frame can be improved, without the need to 
change the fabric panels--so we can develop patterns without regard to 
the final frame design--the frame must fit the panels, and not the other 
way around.  One size panels fits all size boats.  No prior purchase 
necessary.

OK -- so who is still in?  I'm in for every panel we make.  I know Dave 
is in.  Slim has a PVC frame we can use as a frame pattern and 
prototype.  What material shall we use for the first frame we make?  Is 
wood an option for a prototype?  (We have people on the list who are 
very good with wood.)  Stainless Steel?  Aluminum?  Can we use 
telescoping boat poles with custom fittings on the ends to link them 
together?

How much do we think this will cost?  We have to leave enough money to 
pay for replacement frames for early failed prototypes.  Can the panels 
be made of better or lesser materials depending on the intended use?

First we have to sort out who is still in.  The project will move 
forward even if the answer is "nobody but Bill".  Early adopters will 
buy at cost, and their needs will be more heavily factored into the 
final design of the project.

Thanks to all who have helped get us to this point.  Your input, 
thoughts, grumblings will improve the final design--please keep them coming.

I'm going off to look at Slim's pictures again.  The ones I have show a 
lot of detail (I work on a 20" screen, and there is a lot of detail in 
what I have downloaded.)  If I need to see more, I will surely ask.  
Luckily, Stan has already seen what Slim has, and that's probably the 
most important thing.

Back to work.  I'm still running behind.

Bill Effros



David Bradley wrote:

>I had the great pleasure of visiting Stan and Rose yesterday at GBI
>world headquarters in Edenton.  In between looking at my beautiful new
>R22 in mid-production and a nice dinner (at Waterman's), we talked at
>length about the boom room project.
>
>At the risk of not relaying it completely accurately, here is Stan's
>thinking on a "best" boom room design.  (Stan, please correct me as
>needed.)
>
>Boom Room Design Parameters:
>
>1.  Primary use is for overnight camping, and design should maximize
>benefits for this primary usage.
>
>2.  Not integrated with Pop Top Enclosure - removes complexity factor
>and improves economics/ease of set-up.
>
>3.  Fabric is sail cloth, with roof panel treated for water resistance.
>
>4.  Roof panel rests on top of boom as main support beam.
>
>5.  Must have rigid frame at roof panel perimeter; other roof support
>members TBD.
>        a.  Evaluate frame materials for lightweight rigid frame that
>is easy to store
>        b.  Consider aluminum tubes with crimp/socket connections, and
>shock cords
>        c.  Explore design for "yokes" to fit over boom as supporting "rafters"
>             (see drawings if I can figure out how to attach)
>
>6.  Multiple side/front/rear panels with optional screen and clear
>plastic sections.
>
>7.  Side/rear panels zip in place and snap to gunwale; taught snapped
>panels provide lateral roof support; no need to attach to stays.
>        a.  Lower boom slightly to assemble, then raise boom to tension panels
>        b.  If using roof panel only as shade tent, run cords/straps
>from perimeter
>             frame to gunwales for lateral support
>
>8.  Front panel snaps across cabin trunk top, leaving hatches outside boom room
>
>9.  Forward edge is in front of mast and inside forward side shrouds;
>aft side shrouds are disconnected for boom room set-up; topping lift
>line runs next to mast; roof panel seals around mast.
>
>10.  Rear panel fastens inside rear stays and stern rail and snaps to
>gunwale, with enough tension to ensure rain will slide down the angeld
>surface; evaluate whether a "shoulder" can be created by adding ties
>to stern rail (similar to how an umbrella tent has outside ties to the
>exterior frame).
>
>Net, the design that Slim has (which Stan made for the original owner)
>is pretty close to what Stan thinks is optimal.  The idea of multiple
>panel options (solid, screen and clear) gives it the Rhodes
>flexibility and quality, while keeping sizes down.  Where he has never
>been happy is with frame designs.  He leans toward aluminum or
>stainless with the "crimp and socket" (somebody tell me if there's a
>techincal term) type fitting and shock cords used in tents.  The
>individual pieces need to be short enough to fit under cockpit seats
>or in lazarette.
>
>Stan is more than happy to have some help in project managing this,
>which Bill and I are doing for now.  Stan will advise as we go.  He
>thinks we should work with small fabricators to get a prototype built
>vs. working with someone "in the sailboat business."
>
>
>Next Steps:
>
>1.  Finalize design specs and obtain firm committments.
>
>2.  Create prototype, beginning with frame fabricator.
>
>
>Please reply with comments and suggestions.
>
>Best regards,
>
>Dave Bradley
>
>P.S.  I tried attaching a jpeg file with drawings.  First is of an
>idea Stan has for a yoke that would also serve as a support rafter for
>roof panel.  Second is a not-to-scale sketch of the numbers and types
>of interchangeable panels.
>  
>
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